203 The Apology 1 (1/2)

Even though Joann had stated explicitly that she did not want Xiu Ling's help, Xiu Ling believed sometimes you had to go against what your friend wanted for the sake of their best interest.

Xiu Ling knew Joann would have many things to deal with on her table and she wanted her best friend to focus on what was the most important, her marriage. Therefore, she volunteered to deal with Qing Qing so Joann would not have to worry about that stray variable.

Xiu Ling did not have the intention to tell Joann about what she had done because it wasn't her desire to seek appreciation or validation, she just wanted to help her friend... even though that friend had stated that she needed no one's help.

Xiu Ling understood Joann had the tendency to be overly self-reliant. It was not unnecessarily a bad thing but Xiu Ling did not want her friend to crumble under pressure so she volunteered a helping hand. Xiu Ling had intervened into territory that Joann had specifically warned her from but ultimately her intention was to help. Xiu Ling hoped that her friend would understand that.

...

Xu Jing knocked heavily and repeatedly on the wooden door to the bedroom he shared with Joann. He pleaded at the top of his lungs, ”Joann, please open the door. Let me explain it to you! Please hear me out, Joann! Please tell me what's wrong!”

All he had as response was total silence. It was as if there was no one behind the door but Xu Jing knew that to be false because their bedroom door could only be locked from the inside. Someone had to be on the other side of the door and Xu Jing could only imagine it was his wife. Other people would have opened the door already.

Xu Jing hoped for an argument, accusation, or having his wife cuss him out would have been better than this radio silence. At least, that was they would be communicating, this absolute lack of response only heightened the unrest in his heart. He had a feeling something was seriously wrong but he had no idea what.

Yes, Xu Jing was still clueless. When he returned home that day, there was a shift in the general atmosphere that he just knew something was not right. He tried to ask someone but no one was around.

Xu Jing walked around the living room and kitchen but they were vacated. It was as if tragedy just hit and everyone was in hiding. This created quite an unease in the man's heart.

Finding no answer, Xu Jing returned to his bedroom like usual. However, he found himself stumped at the door because try as he might, he couldn't get it to open. He thought his wife had accidentally left the lock on the door so he called out loudly, ”Joann, please open the door.”

There was no answer and with a frown, Xu Jing called louder, ”Joann? Are you there?”